Developing nutrient management package for organic farming in rice involving non-basmati quality cultivars

Organic farming has emerged as an important priority area globally in view of the growing demand of safe and healthy food and long-term sustainability; and concern on environmental pollution associated with indiscriminate use of agrochemicals. A Field experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic farming in Non-basmati quality varieties during samba season (September-February) 2008 at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The study revealed that, cultivation of variety white ponni with the combined application of organic manures, such as green manure, FYM, poultry manure and neem cake (N₆) has improved the growth parameters, yield parameters and yield (8550 kg ha⁻¹) of low N requiring rice crop. The DMP and LAI (14945 kg ha⁻¹ and 5.43) was significantly higher in White Ponni (V₃) compared to other varieties tested. With regard to combined application of organic manures, application of green manure, FYM, poultry manure and neem cake (N₆) recorded significantly higher DMP (14499kg/ha) and LAI (5.41). Highest number of panicles/m2 (404), panicle length (25.20) were observed with Kitchli Samba (V₂) while highest thousand grain weight (17.53) and higher yield (5086 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded with white ponni (V₃). The yield parameters such as number of panicles/m2 (470), panicle length (26.62cm), highest thousand grain weight (13.97) and yield (4210 kg ha⁻¹) were significantly higher in combined application of green manure, FYM, poultry manure and neem cake (N6).